The menstrual cycle is unique to each person. Its duration, intensity, and associated symptoms can vary from month to month without it being serious. However, certain sudden or lasting changes can indicate a hormonal imbalance or a pathology.
How do you tell the difference between a simple variation and a real disorder? Here are the medical benchmarks to know when to worry.
👉 If you haven't already done so, go read our complete article on how the menstrual cycle works.
Article Summary
1- The "Norm": What is a normal cycle?
Before talking about disorders, we must define what is healthy. A cycle is considered normal when it meets these three criteria:
- Frequency: It lasts between 21 and 35 days (from the 1st day of the period to the 1st day of the next).
- Period duration: Bleeding lasts between 3 and 7 days.
- Regularity: It is relatively stable, even if variations of a few days (e.g., 26 days then 29 days) are frequent and not serious.
Physiological (normal) variations:
The cycle is not a metronome. It is naturally disrupted at three key moments in life:
1. Puberty: The first cycles are often erratic.
2. Postpartum: After childbirth and during breastfeeding.
3. Perimenopause: Approaching menopause, cycles shorten or are skipped.
2- Warning signs (Glossary of disorders)
If you fall outside the guidelines defined above, you may be suffering from one of these disorders:
| Symptom | Medical Term | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| No more periods | Amenorrhea | Absence of periods for more than 3 months (excluding pregnancy/menopause). |
| Torrential periods | Menorrhagia | Loss of more than 80ml or periods lasting more than 7 days. |
| Extreme pain | Dysmenorrhea | Disabling pain that resists standard painkillers. |
| Bleeding outside periods | Metrorrhagia | Blood loss (spotting or flow) in the middle of the cycle. |
| Erratic cycles | Oligomenorrhea | Very long (> 35 days) or very short (< 21 days) cycles. |
3- Possible causes of cycle disorders
Why is your cycle becoming irregular? The causes are often multifactorial.
A. Hormonal imbalances
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): The #1 cause of irregular cycles. The ovaries produce too many androgens, which blocks or delays ovulation.
- Thyroid: This gland regulates the entire metabolism. Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism directly impacts periods.
- Prolactin: An excess of this hormone (hyperprolactinemia) can stop your period as if you were breastfeeding.
B. Uterine pathologies
- Endometriosis / Adenomyosis: They cause intense pain and heavy periods.
- Fibroids / Polyps: These benign growths can cause the uterus to bleed outside of periods or increase the flow.
C. Lifestyle (Environmental impact)
Your cycle is sensitive to your general state. It can stop out of "protection" in case of:
- Intense stress: Cortisol blocks ovulation.
- Weight: Excessive thinness (anorexia, high-level sports) or significant overweight can disrupt hormone production.
- Medications: Certain treatments (antidepressants, corticosteroids) influence the cycle.
4- When to consult a healthcare professional?
Don't wait until you are exhausted to consult. Make an appointment with a midwife or a gynecologist if:
- You haven't had a period for 3 months.
- Your periods have become hemorrhagic (you change your period product every hour).
- The pain prevents you from going to work or school.
- You bleed after sexual intercourse.
The typical check-up: The doctor will often prescribe a pelvic ultrasound and a blood test (hormonal assessment) to make a diagnosis.
Conclusion: An irregular cycle is not inevitable; it is a message from your body. By listening to it, you can often identify and treat the root cause.
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